Cnotes 2019-2020 College Football Trends-News-Notes-Best Bets & Opinions !

[Cnotes53]

Hokies, Cavs battle for Coastal Division
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Virginia is hoping the third time is the charm they face No. 23 Virginia Tech.

The Cavaliers (8-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have twice previously played the Hokies with the ACC's Coastal Division title on the line, and neither went well. They lost 33-21 in 2007 and 38-0 in 2011, with both games at Scott Stadium. Virginia will be home again on Friday with the Coastal Division title on the line.

After a slow start to the season, the Hokies (8-3, 5-2) are the ACC's hottest team besides No. 3 Clemson, having won six of seven. The change started when they switched to Hendon Hooker at quarterback - he's 6-0 as the starter - and includes back-to-back shutouts against bowl-bound Wake Forest (45-0) and Pittsburgh (28-0) in the past two weeks.

The Hokies have also won the last 15 in the series, including a heartbreaker for the Cavaliers a year ago in Blacksburg, so their surge this season is attention-getting.

''I think Virginia Tech's brand has become stronger this year as they played, and their identity has become clearer of how their offense, defense and special teams fit together,'' said Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, who has identified beating Virginia Tech as a top priority since his arrival four years ago. ''I think their defense is gaining momentum, doing a nice job over the last three weeks especially. Again, clarity on who they are, how they're going to play.''

The Cavaliers' loss last season came after they settled for a field goal to go ahead 31-25 with 2:41 to play. The Hokies' Hezekiah Grimsley recovered a fumble in the end zone to tie the game with 1:51 to play. The Cavaliers limited Virginia Tech to a field goal in overtime, but were unable to score themselves in the Hokies' 34-31 victory.

While he'd like to keep Virginia Tech's winning streak going, Hokies coach Justin Fuente knows the competitiveness in the series is a positive.

''I do think it's good that there is a lot at stake no matter what,'' Fuente said. ''We understand that, but it's good for the commonwealth that the teams are fairly successful. The thing about competition and rivalries and all that sort of stuff is when you are in it, it still comes down to execution.''

Some other things to watch when Virginia Tech and Virginia meet Friday for the Commonwealth Cup:

SIGNAL CALLERS

Quarterback play is critical in every game, but it's magnified in this one. Hooker is not only unbeaten as a starter, but he's thrown for 10 touchdowns without an interception. Virginia's Bryce Perkins leads the ACC with 3,161 yards of total offense, but also was charged with the fumble that ended last year's game in overtime.

SACK EXCHANGE

Both defenses rank among the nation's top 20 in sacks per game. Virginia is tied for eighth with 3.36 per game, and the Hokies are 12th with 3.18 per game. While Perkins is more dangerous when he tucks the ball to run, Hooker has also had success running and similar success would free things up for their other offensive weapons.

EMOTIONS

It will be senior day for Virginia with all fourth- and fifth-year player introduced along with their families before the game. It also will be the last matchup with Virginia for Hokies longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who is retiring at season's end. Virginia Tech has a 21-3 record against Virginia with Foster as coordinator.

FANDOM

The crowd for these matchups at Scott Stadium has often featured a sizable Virginia Tech contingent decked out in maroon. Virginia's attendance and fan involvement have improved greatly this season, so even the players and coaches are likely to take note is they are greeted by a sea of maroon before kickoff.

FACTS AND STATS

Retiring Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster's defense has registered 36 shutouts in his 33 years at Virginia Tech. ... Virginia Tech is averaging 197 rushing yards and has 14 rushing touchdowns during its five-game ACC winning streak. ... The Hokies have outscored Virginia 436-180 during their streak. ... Virginia's Joe Reed needs 11 kickoff return yards to reach 3,000 for his career. ... Virginia has never won the Coastal Division and, with a win, would give each of the seven teams in the division one title in the last seven years.

 

[Cnotes53]

Texas needs win over Red Raiders to guarantee winning season
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Trying to avoid a losing season is not how Texas expected to spend its Thanksgiving weekend.

Yet, that is what faces the Longhorns on Friday as they host Texas Tech. Beat the Red Raiders and they guarantee coach Tom Herman's third season will at least finish above .500. Lose and they head into a panicky bowl season.

That's quite a fall for a team that began the season ranked in the top 10 and was among the favorites for the Big 12 title. Texas (6-5, 4-4 Big 12) limps into the game having lost two straight and four of its last six games.

Herman this week declared his program is heading into ''big-time evaluation mode,'' from analyzing play calling and game-planning, to recruiting and player development. He still thinks his team will be ready to play.

''I think the biggest motivation is the winning record,'' he said.

While Texas frets a season lost, the Red Raiders (4-7, 2-6) have a chance to end a frustrating 2019 with a boost for first-year coach Matt Wells. The only Texas Tech coach to beat Texas in his debut season was David McWilliams in 1986. Texas hired McWilliams the next season.

''Our bowl game will be this week in Austin and that's how we'll treat it,'' Wells said. ''And our guys will be absolutely ready to go.''

UPTIGHT TEXAS

Herman said he expects his team to be loose but there are reasons to be uptight. The possibility of a losing season looms heavy, the assistant coaches are on notice that their jobs could be on the line and even Herman is facing intense criticism over play calling. And fan apathy could be strong with a Friday morning game the day after a holiday in a disappointing season.

''We're all in this together, but at the end of the day the buck stops with me. So that is a big charge of mine in the offseason is to find a way to get these guys better developed and put them in better positions to succeed,'' Herman said.

LONGHORNS OFFENSE

The Texas offense has done one of the great disappearing acts of the season. The defense that was so bad early in the season has tightened up, but the offense that was so good early hasn't reached 30 points in the last four games. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger is completing just 57% of his passes over that stretch with six interceptions. Last week against Baylor was the first time this season Ehlinger didn't throw or run for a touchdown.

SLOW STARTS

Texas hasn't scored a touchdown in the first quarter of the last four games. The opening drives of the last three games have netted a total of six first downs and no points.

LATE COLLAPSE

Texas Tech has lost five games it led in the fourth quarter or overtime, with four conference losses by three points or less. The Red Raiders just haven't been able to make the winning play at the end.

''Shows you the unpredictability of college football and the parity of this league,'' Wells said. ''What if things turned different in one of those games or two of those games?''

BIG PLAY TURNER

Texas Tech's R.J. Turner has emerged as the team's big play receiver of late. He leads the Red Raiders with 619 yards receiving has touchdowns of 70 and 58 yards the last two weeks.

 

[Cnotes53]

Friday's Essentials
Tony Mejia

Here?s a look at what must be considered before wagering on Friday's slate in select FBS vs. FBS matchups:

Early Starts

Virginia Tech (-2/47) at Virginia, 12 p.m. ET, FOX: The Hokies are sending Bud Foster out in style, but let?s be clear ? Foster is doing his part to ensure an exit befitting his legacy as his final days coordinating the defense for Virginia Tech play out. He announced prior to the season that this would be it following a health scare, so his 290th game in his current position will be his final one outside of a bowl game. If his team can pull an upset in Charlottesville, he?ll cram one more assignment in since the winner of this game will be the Coastal Division representative opposite Clemson in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.

Virignia Tech has pulled off back-to-back shutouts, dominating Georgia Tech and Pitt by a combined margin of 73-0. The Hokies have won six of seven games, falling by just a single point at Notre Dame as a 17.5-point underdog to open the month. The Cavaliers opened 4-0, suffered through a rough patch and now look to finish the regular-season with a fourth straight win, which would be UVa?s first in a Commonwealth Cup since 2003. Virginia has really struggled in this matchup but nearly won last season, coming up just shot in a 34-31 OT loss after QB Bryce Perkins fumbled to spoil a day where he accounted for four touchdowns and nearly 400 yards of offense. While nowhere near as experienced, Virginia Tech QB Hendon Hooker is 6-0 in starts and hasn?t been intercepted in 110 passes and counting.

Texas Tech at Texas (-9.5/64), 12 p.m ET, FOX: The Red Raiders can?t get bowl eligible, so this trip to Austin will have to suffice as their exclamation point on the season. It hasn?t been a good one for Texas Tech, which struggled after losing QB Alan Bowman, derailing Matt Wells? first season. Replacement Jett Duffey has been inconsistent but is certainly capable when in a groove, so Tech can be dangerous if the Longhorns allow him to buy time for his receivers. We?ll see how invested Texas? defense is considering the team is already bowl-eligible and will be a non-factor in the Big 12 race. Only Texas Tech and Kansas have been scored upon more in Big 12 play, so it?s not like the group has played inspired ball.

Offensively, Sam Ehlinger and his group have had their moments but a lot of inconsistency has plagued that group too. Texas is coming off a 24-10 loss to Baylor, which came on the heels of their lowest-scoring output of the season in a 23-21 loss at Iowa State. When the Longhorns were last home, edging K-State, they still harbored conference title aspirations. We?ll see how they handle finishing the season at home after disappointing. The forecast calls for showers, adding to fun.

Toledo at Central Michigan (-11/65), 12 p.m. ET, ESPNU: There?s going to be a lot of people just realizing that Jim McElwain is coaching again today. The former Gators coach known mostly for going viral on social media has done a tremendous job in his first season in Mount Pleasant, where he?ll be looking to secure the school?s first trip to the MAC Championship since 2009. Yep, Antonio Brown?s Chips were the last team to win the West, as this group is trying to do.

The Rockets have been a mess this season but have survived injuries and still have a winning record, so they?re an interesting spoiler here since they?ve already secured bowl eligibility. Top dual-threat QB Mitchell Guadagni has missed the past few weeks and experienced backup Eli Peters won?t play here either, so the Rockets are going to be starting a third-stringer in snowy Mount Pleasant. Tennessee transfer Quinten Dormady threw for a career-high 356 yards in his most recent outing and is worth watching. There?s no question the spread here is inflated, but taking points means you?re relying on a relative unknown with either redshirt freshman Carter Bradley or true freshman Cross Wilkerson working.

Afternoon Delights

Iowa (-5.5/45) at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. ET, BTN: The Hawkeyes are looking for their fifth straight win in this series, cutting into a ?Huskers lead that they built up from 1893-1941. You can understand by Iowa fans take offense to Nebraska people thumping their chest at the thought of owning the edge in this rivalry, now known as the ?Heroes Game? and being played for the 50th time Take it easy, Iowa, your team is favored on the road at Memorial Stadium, which tells you how Scott Frost?s restoration project is going.

A loss here means that Frost has begun his tenure at his alma mater with multiple losing seasons. The absence of QB Adrian Martinez has tempered momentum this season, but they did at least snap a four-game losing streak with last week?s 54-7 rout at Maryland that teases a turning of the corner. We?ll find out here. Iowa won last season?s game 31-29 despite fielding a better team than they?ve got this season, so Nebraska has a chance to break through and really rescue its season. Rain is expected to factor in throughout.

Cincinnati at Memphis (-12/58), 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC: This game has a much national impact as any since the winner places itself in the driver?s seat to represent the Group of Five leagues in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers are looking for their third straight West Division title and would be at Navy?s mercy with a loss here. A victory would mean that the American Athletic title game would be played at the Liberty Bowl next week. Cincinnati, already locked in as the East Division champ, will host with a win.

The Tigers have won four of six, including three straight. The Bearcats have repeatedly bounced back after finding themselves down in games this season, so they may be worth an in-game play if getting points if down early in the game. Bearcats QB Desmond Ritter has been dealing with a shoulder injury, so look for a healthy dose of Michael Warren II here. Tigers QB Brady White has thrown 30 touchdown passes, but he?ll be facing the best defense he?s seen since losing 30-28 at Temple on Oct. 12. Memphis has won five straight games since, averaging over 45 points per game and topping 42 each time.

Boise State (-14/57) at Colorado State, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN: The Broncos are looking for their 11th win here as they try to complete a perfect run through the Mountain West regular-season slate. Hawai?i has already secured its spot in the title game by winning the West Division and will play the Broncos next week. Colorado State has dropped consecutive games to Air Force and Wyoming and is stuck playing spoiler here to close out another losing season. As you would expect, the Rams are treating it as a home bowl game, looking to beat a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since 2002. Boise has never been able to navigate its conference schedule unscathed, so it is hoping to make some history amid snowy conditions in Fort Collins QB Hank Bachmeier is expected to return from injury, but check prior to game-time to make sure.

Washington State at Washington (-7/63.5), 4 p.m. ET, FOX: This year?s Apple Cup lacks intrigue since neither team is playing for anything beyond rivalry pride, having already secured winning records and bowl bids despite disappointing seasons given preseason expectations. On paper, this could have been one of the day?s biggest games, but both teams lost to Utah and Oregon and fell in a few other games they had no business dropping, creating a situation where the loser falls to 6-6. The Huskies lost to Stanford, while WSU routed it 49-22 behind QB Anthony Gordon?s 520 passing yards and five touchdowns. The Cougs pulled out last week?s meeting against Oregon State 54-53 behind Gordon?s 50 completions and 606 passing yards, but he threw three picks and will be facing a secondary that can punish mistakes.

Washington won last season?s meeting 28-15, landing a Pac-12 Championship appearance, so we?ll see if Chris Petersen?s team can demonstrate similar focus with nothing on the line. The Huskies have won nine of 10 in the series, including six in succession. Mike Leach hasn?t won an Apple Cup since 2012 but has a quarterback set to top the 5,000-yard mark to try and help engineer an upset. Gordon and RB Max Borghi have keyed an attack averaging over 41 points per game, but a defense that has given up over 31 points will have to deal with a capable group led by QB Jacob Eason. Temperatures should be in the high 30?s throughout.

Primetime Matchup

South Florida at UCF (-23.5/62), 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: The Knights will look to keep hopes for another 10-win season alive while they try to extend a dominant run over rival South Florida, who once refused to play the university located roughly an hour to the north because it wasn?t competitive enough. The Bulls have only won four games under Charlie Strong this season and are a massive ?dog. There have been some great UCF-USF matchups over the years, but this one has all the makings of a blowout. South Florida?s top rusher, Jordan Cronkite, has been ruled out and QB Jordan McCloud is nursing a sore thumb, so keeping pace with UCF in the ?Bounce House? will require playing well over their heads.

Avoiding a letdown here and closing out a promising first season for freshman Dillon Gabriel is the mandate for the home team, which could be closing out the Charlie Strong era if South Florida elects to pay a buyout and seek a new head coach following another disappointment. The Knights have won 20 straight games at Spectrum Stadium and expect a full house despite falling short of their goal of competing for conference and national titles.

 

[Cnotes53]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TTU at TEX 12:00 PM
TEX -7.5
O 65.0

TOL at CMU 12:00 PM
TOL +14.5
O 64.5

M-OH at BALL 12:00 PM
BALL -3.0

KENT at EMU 12:00 PM
KENT +3.5

BGSU at BUFF 12:00 PM
BUFF -28.0

VT at UVA 12:00 PM
VT -2.5
O 49.0

IOWA at NEB 02:30 PM
IOWA -4.5
U 45.0

MIZZ at ARK 02:30 PM
O 53.5

 

[Cnotes53]

MID-DAY GAMES

CIN at MEM 03:30 PM
CIN +13.0
O 58.0

BSU at CSU 03:30 PM
BSU -14.0
U 58.5

WSU at WASH 04:00 PM
WSU +7.5
U 63.5

WVU at TCU 04:15 PM
TCU -13.5

ARST at USA 05:00 PM
ARST -11.0
O 54.0

APP at TROY 06:00 PM
APP -11.5
O 62.5

USF at UCF 08:00 PM
UCF -23.5
U 62.0

 

[Cnotes53]

No. 19 Iowa beats Nebraska 27-24 on Duncan???s late FG
November 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Brady White threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and No. 17 Memphis beat 18th-ranked Cincinnati 34-24 on Friday for the Tigers??? third straight American Athletic Conference West title and the right to host the league championship - and the Bearcats again - next week.

This will be the first time that Memphis (11-1, 7-1, No. 18 CFP) will host a conference title game in program history.

And the league championship will be a rematch between these teams after Memphis snapped a nine-game winning streak by the East Division champs. Cincinnati (10-2, 7-1, No. 19 CFP) hadn???t lost since being routed by Ohio State on Sept. 7.

Joseph Dorceus and Bryce Huff had two sacks apiece, and Memphis finished with five. The Tigers came up with three turnovers, including an interception by Sanchez Blake Jr. with 1:35 left.

Memphis also forced Cincinnati three-and-out after Ahmad Gardner intercepted White with 7:49 left with the Tigers up only 27-24.

The Tigers led only 20-17 when they put together their longest drive, going 83 yards over nine plays capped by a flea flicker. Patrick Taylor took the handoff, handed to Kedarian Jones who flipped the ball to White, and he hit Damonte Coxie for a 46-yard TD with 13:22 left.

Antonio Gibson scored on a 29-yard TD run with 3:16 left for the final margin for Memphis.

NO. 19 IOWA 27, NEBRASKA 24

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Keith Duncan kicked a 48-yard field goal with a second left to lift Iowa past Nebraska and keep the Cornhuskers out of the postseason for a third consecutive season.

The Hawkeyes (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) overcame a sluggish second half offensively to beat the Cornhuskers (5-7, 3-6) for a fifth straight year and second year in a row on a late field goal. Last year, they won on a 41-yarder as time expired.

Iowa, which had its 14-point lead wiped out in the third quarter, started its final possession at its 26 with 32 seconds left. Stanley had a long pass to Nico Ragaini overturned to incomplete on video review, but then completed a pair of 22-yard passes to Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Sam LaPorta to bring on the reliable Duncan.

The Huskers called two timeouts before Duncan drilled the winner down the middle,

Nebraska, down 24-10 at half, tied it with back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter. Luke McCaffrey entered the game for a play in place of quarterback Adrian Martinez, rolled to his left and hit JD Spielman with a perfect 39-yard TD pass.

Iowa???s Kirk Ferentz moved ahead of the man he replaced, Hayden Fry, on the Big Ten list for career conference wins. Ferentz has 97, behind only Ohio State???s Woody Hayes (153), Michigan???s Bo Schembechler (143) and the University of Chicago???s Amos Alonzo Stagg (115).

NO. 20 BOISE STATE 31, COLORADO STATE 24

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - Jaylon Henderson accounted for three scores, defensive tackle David Moa came up with a big late sack and Boise State beat Colorado State to finish undefeated in Mountain West Conference play for the first time.

Boise State (11-1, 8-0, No. 20 CFP) will host Hawaii next week in the Mountain West title game.

Henderson ran for a short score early in the fourth to give Boise State some breathing room. He also threw two TD passes, giving him eight over the past three games as he fills in for banged-up starter Hank Bachmeier and backup Chase Cord.

Garrett Collingham hauled in one of Henderson???s TD passes and ran in another as the Broncos head into the league???s championship game with a head of steam. They host Hawaii on Saturday.

Patrick O???Brien threw for 289 yards and two TDs for the Rams (4-8, 3-5). They are 0-9 against Boise State.

NO. 22 APPALACHIAN STATE 48, TROY 13

TROY, Ala. (AP) - Zac Thomas passed for 326 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a fifth score to lead Appalachian State past Troy in the regular-season finale.

The win assured the Mountaineers (11-1, 7-1 Sun Belt Conference) of hosting the league title game against Louisiana next Saturday.

Thomas, Darrynton Evans, Thomas Hennigan and others all delivered big plays for Appalachian State, which reached the end zone on each of its first five possessions against the Trojans (5-7, 3-5).

Thomas was 28-of-34 passing with his final attempt a 25-yard scoring strike to Evans to start the fourth quarter. He had a 12-yard touchdown run.

Evans also scored on runs of 52 and 9 yards and gained 82 yards. Hennigan gained 140 yards on 11 catches and Malik Williams caught two short touchdown passes.

VIRGINIA 39, NO. 23 VIRGINIA TECH 30

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Bryce Perkins put up 475 yards of offense, Brian Delaney kicked a go-ahead 48-yard field with 1:23 to play and Virginia sealed it with a defensive score, beating Virginia Tech to end a 15-game losing streak in the rivalry and earn the Cavaliers??? first trip to the ACC championship game.

Virginia will represent the Coastal Division against No. 3 Clemson in the ACC championship next Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Perkins ran for two long touchdowns and passed for another for the Cavaliers (9-3, 6-2), who became the seventh school in as many years to claim the Coastal Division. Delaney also kicked a 25-yard field goal for Virginia, and his last kick made up for a missed extra point early.

Hendon Hooker ran for one touchdown and threw for another for the Hokies (8-4, 5-3), who came in having won six of seven games to surge into championship contention.

 

[Cnotes53]

CFB NOVEMBER OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

11/29/2019........13-11-1........54.17%..........+4.50
11/28/2019...........2-0-0.......100.00%.........+10.00
11/26/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%..........-1.00
11/23/2019........33-42-0.........44.44%..........-66.00
11/22/2019...........0-2-0..........00.00%.........-11.00
11/21/2019...........2-0-0........100.00%.........+10.00
11/20/2019...........1-3-0.........25.00%..........-11.50
11/19/2019...........3-1-0.........75.00%...........+9.50
11/16/2019........32-30-1.........51.61%...........-5.00
11/15/201.............3-1-0..........75.00%..........+9.50
11/14/2019...........1-3-0..........25.00%...........-11.50
11/13/2019...........3-1-0..........75.00%...........+9.50
11/12/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%............-1.00
11/09/2019........32-27-0..........54.24%...........+11.50
11/08/2019...........2-2-0...........50.00%...........-1.00
11/06/2019...........2-0-0.........100.00%..........+10.00
11/05/2019...........1-3-0...........25.00%..........-11.50
11/02/2019........29-28-0,,,,,,,,,,50.88%............-9.00
11/01/2019.......... 1-1-0 ..........50.00%.......... -0.50

Totals................164-159-0....... 50.77%...........-57.50


*****************************

BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS.............UNITS. ............O/U...............UNITS.............TOTALS

11/29/2019.............6 - 7............-8.50...............3 - 4..............-7.00.................-15.50
11/28/2019.............1 - 0............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00...............+10.00
11/26/2019.............1 - 1.............-0.50.............1 - 1................-0.50................-1.00
11/23/2019............17 - 20...........-25.00..........12 - 10.............+5.00...............-20.00
11/22/2019.............0 - 1..............-5.50............0 - 1...............-5.50.................-11.00
11/21/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00...........1 - 0...............+5.00................+10.00
11/20/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/19/2019.............2 - 0..............+10.00..........1 - 1..............-0.50.................+9.50
11/16/2019............20- 12............+40.00..........6 - 7...............-8.50................+31.50
11/15/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50................+9.50
11/14/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/13/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50.................+9.50
11/12/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........0 - 2...............-11.00...............-1.00
11/09/2019............13 - 14...........-12.00............4 - 2...............+9.00...............-3.00
11/08/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1................-0.50...............+9.50
11/06/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00..............+10.00
11/05/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00..............-11.50
11/02/2019............12 - 16...........-28.00............8 - 4...............+18.00.............-10.00
11/01/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............0 - 1................-5.50...............-0.50

TOTALS.................82 - 73...........+29.00...........41 - 42............-15.00...............+14.00


************************************

OCTOBER BEST BETS AND OPINIONS:
Totals...................142-133-0.........51.63%............-21.50

OCTOBER BEST BETS:
Totals....................73 - 57.........-79.30.............48 - 32............+36.50............-42.80

 

[Cnotes53]

WEEK # 13
SATURDAY GAMES

Iowa State lost its last seven games with Kansas State, losing last three visits to Manhattan, by an average score of 55-8. Home side covered last four series games. Cyclones won five of last seven games; they?ve gained 466+ TY in their last five games, but have three losses this year by 1 or 2 points. Cyclones covered five of last six games as a road favorer (2-1 TY). Kansas State lost two of its last three games, all of which were decided by 4 or less points; Wildcats are 14-4 ATS in last 18 games as a home underdog, 2-0 TY. Under is 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Ohio State is 11-0 this year, 8-3 ATS, with LW?s 28-17 win over Penn State their closest game of the year; Buckeyes are 12-10 ATS in lat 22 games as a road favorite, 3-1 TY. OSU hasn?t allowed more than 285 yards in any game TY. Buckeyes won their last seven games with Michigan, but covered only two of last six; OSU won its last three visits to Ann Arbor, by 1-29-11 points- dogs covered four of last five series games played here. Michigan scored 41.5 ppg in winning its last four games; since 2011, they?re 3-0 ATS as a home dog. Over is 6-3 in their last nine games.

Wisconsin scored 35.3 ppg in winning its last three games, running ball for 341 ypg; Badgers? last three games went over total. Wisconsin is 12-4 ATS in last 16 games as a road favorite, 2-1 TY. Badgers lost 37-15 at home to Minnesota LY, ending their 14-game series winning streak; they won last seven visits to the Twin Cities (5-2 ATS). Minnesota bounced back from their first loss with a 38-22 win at Northwestern LW; Gophers are 10-4 ATS in last 14 games as a home underdog, 1-0 TY. Four of their last five games went over the total.

Indiana gave up 73 points in losing its last two games after a 7-2 start; they split four road games TY, with all four games decided by nine or fewer points. Under Allen, Hoosiers are 2-5 ATS as a road favorite, 0-1 TY. Indiana lost its last two games with Purdue, by 7-7 points; they split their last four visits to Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue was outrushed 654-124 in its last two games; they split their last six games after a 1-4 start. Boilers covered five of their last six games as a home underdog. 2-1 TY. Over is 2-0-1 in their last three games.

Louisville won five of its last seven games, scoring 90 points in its last two; Cardinals split their four road games TY- they covered once in last seven games as a road underdog (1-2 TY). Five of their last seven games went over total. Road team won last four Louisville-Kentucky games, with Cardinals winning their last four visits to Lexington by an average score of 33-15. Kentucky won three of its last four games, running ball for exactly 1,000 yards in last three SEC games; they?re 2-10-1 ATS in last 13 games a home favorite, 2-1-1 TY. Six of their last eight games stayed under.

Alabama?s backup QB Jones is under gun here, with Tagovailoa out; Crimson Tide won their three true road games TY by average score of 41-19- they?re 21-14 ATS n last 35 games as a road favorite, 2-1 TY. Alabama won/covered four of last five games with Auburn; teams split last six meetings played here. Tide ran ball for 200+ yards in seven of last eight meetings. Auburn split its last six games after a 5-0 start; Tigers scored only 18 ppg in last three SEC games. Under Malzahn, Auburn is 6-3 ATS as a home underdog, 0-1 TY- their last four games stayed under.

Oregon State scored 88 points in splitting pair of one-point decisions the last two weeks; they covered all five of their road games TY, scoring 41.2 ppg. Beavers gave up 937 PY in last two games; Wazzu threw for 606 yards in their 54-53 win over OSU LW. Three of their last four games went over. Oregon won 10 of its last 11 games with OSU, winning last five series games played here (2-3 ATS). Ducks fell out of national title chase with their loss at ASU LW; they?re 9-6 ATS in last 15 games as a home favorite, 3-2 TY. Four of their last five games went over.

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday?s 6-pack

College hoop teams with the most experience:

6) Hofstra, CAA

5) Seattle, WAC

4) South Carolina State, MEAC

3) Central Michigan, MAC

2) Iona, MAAC

1) South Alabama, Sun Belt

Quote of the Day
?Charlotte is home. Charlotte is a place I know people know me. They?re not just assuming. They know how I am. They know my energy. They know what I like and what I don?t like. For me to have that type of presence, it just reminds me that ? it?s right. We?re looking forward to countless more years in Charlotte to impact the community in ways outside of the game of football.?

Cam Newton
Saturday?s quiz
Which bowl game is played in El Paso every year?

Friday?s quiz
Indiana-Purdue play football annually for the Old Oaken Bucket.

Thursday?s quiz
In bowling, if you get a turkey, it mean you rolled three strikes in a row.

***********************

Saturday?s List of 13: Wrapping up a busy Friday?..

13) Virginia 39, Virginia Tech 30? Cavaliers go to ACC championship game for first time, while ending a 15-game losing streak to their in-state rivals.

12) Michigan 82, Gonzaga 64? Wolverines win the Battle of Atlantis, as Juwan Howard begins his head coaching career by winning his first seven games. Thursday?s OT win over Oregon probably took a lot out of the Zags.

11) Marquette 101, USC 79? Markus Howard scored 51 points, his teammates scored 50 as the whole team advances to play Maryland in the finals of the Orlando tournament Sunday. This game was 57-36 at the half; Trojans beat Fairfield 57-48 the day before.

10) Penn State 85, Syracuse 64? ESPN?s Fran Fraschilla basically said without saying the exact words that this is the least talented Syracuse team in decades. Orange are 4-3, with all three losses by 14+ points- their best win is over Colgate.

9) Wake Forest 88, Long Beach State 75? Danny Manning?s Deacons move on to the finals of the Wooden Legacy, will play Arizona in the final Sunday.

Early in this game, kid on Long Beach hits a 3-pointer in front of the Wake Forest bench, and gets a technical for woofing at someone on the bench. Long Beach takes the kid out; the head coach snaps at him a little, then the assistant coach goes over and smooths things over, getting him ready to go back in the game.

8) San Diego State 83, Iowa 73? Aztecs trailed by 17 at one point, improve to 8-0, winning tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

7) Through Week 12, NFL teams with most plays of 20+ yards:
Cowboys 58 (before the Buffalo game), Lions 57

Through Week 12, NFL teams with least plays of 20+ yards:
Dolphins 27, Redskins 29, Bears 31 (before Thursday)

6) Through Week 12, NFL teams that allowed most plays of 20+ yards:
Bengals 69, Raiders 66, Arizona/Miami 58

Through Week 12, NFL teams that allowed fewest plays of 20+ yards:
Patriots/Rams/49ers, all 29

5) Iowa 27, Nebraska 24? Hawkeyes kicked a FG with 0:01 left to end Nebraska?s season at 5-7; this is third year in row that Cornhuskers won?t go bowling.

4) West Virginia 20, TCU 17? Horned Frogs lose as a 13-point home favorite and don?t become bowl eligible. Sad way to end the season.

3) Patriots kicker Nick Folk had an appendectomy, was going miss this week?s game in Houston and then come back, but New England cut him Friday; former Redskins kicker Kai Forbath will be his replacement.

Moral of the story: Don?t have an appendectomy during the season.

2) Philadelphia Eagles signed OT Lane Johnson to a 4-year contract extension worth $72M, with $54.595M of that guaranteed.

1) Reds? pitcher Trevor Bauer?s $300,000 McLaren sports car was totaled while it was being stored at a Houston McLaren dealership. On Tuesday, a tire fell off of a semi truck, rolled across six lanes of traffic on a Houston highway, struck a wall, and crashed thru a double-paned glass window at the dealership and wrecked Bauer?s car.

Thats an expensive day; luckily, no one was injured.

 

[Cnotes53]

Iron Bowl Betting Preview
November 29, 2019


No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 15 Auburn Tigers
Venue/Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
Time/TV: Saturday, Nov. 30, 3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Alabama -3, Total 49

Auburn will host Alabama on Saturday afternoon in their annual slugfest. Gus Malzahn?s team would love nothing more than to spoil the Crimson Tide?s hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff.

There could be bigger stakes in play for Malzahn, the head coach who is seemingly on the hot seat every season. Just like in 2017, the Arkansas job is open and its former offensive coordinator could be one of their top targets. Two seasons ago, Malzahn beat previously-undefeated Georgia and Alabama in a three-week stretch to win the SEC West.

With the Razorbacks in hot pursuit, Auburn?s former president pushed hard and got Malzahn a lucrative new contract. This time around, however, that president is long gone (he was paid handsomely to go away this past summer) and the fan base ? one that?s constantly tortured by the success of its in-state rival ? remains restless.

On the other side, Nick Saban?s team is fifth in the College Football Rankings this week. Therefore, it needs a win at Jordan-Hare Stadium and some help from its other competitors, many of whom can pad their resumes with another quality win and a conference title next weekend. The Crimson Tide won?t have that chance, though, so it wants to pick up as many style points as possible on The Plains. As of Friday afternoon, most betting shops had Alabama (10-1 straight up, 6-5 against the spread) installed as a 3.5-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. The Tigers were +150 on the money line.

?Bama lost star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending injury in the second quarter of a 38-7 win at Mississippi State two weeks ago.

Mac Jones had started in a 48-7 win over Arkansas as a 32-point home favorite, when Tagovailoa was recovering from an ankle injury suffered in a 35-13 non-covering home triumph over Tennessee. Twenty days later after Tagovailoa underwent tightrope ankle surgery, he started in a 46-41 home loss to LSU.

As we explained to you in our LSU at Alabama preview using quotes from Dr. Michael Gilmore, who had performed three of the same tightrope procedures the previous week, Tagovailoa was ?75 percent healthy at best.? This fact was evident, especially on a fumble deep in the red zone on the Tide?s opening drive. Nevertheless, Tagovailoa played valiantly against the Tigers, but it wasn?t enough.

Saban decided to play his Heisman Trophy candidate the following week in Starkville, even when his team comfortably led 35-7 late in the second quarter. Tagovailoa sustained a hip injury on what would?ve been his final possession of that day.

Jones played well in last week?s 66-3 win over Western Carolina as a 58.5-point home favorite, but there?s no doubt that the CFP committee will judge his team ? as it is with him under center ? based on how it looks in hostile territory against a top-tier opponent.

Jones completed 17-of-20 passes for 275 yards and three TDs without an interception against the Catamounts. Jaylen Waddle had three catches for 101 yards and one TD, while DeVonta Smith had four receptions for 94 yards and two TDs. Najee Harris had a 12-yard TD reception, and he also had 66 rushing yards and one score on 14 attempts.

For the season, Jones has connected on 71.4 percent of his throws for 841 yards with a 7/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. However, we should note that those numbers can be a little deceiving. Jones is making more high-percentage throws than Tagovailoa, with his NFL-level group of wideouts producing lots of YAC (yards after catch). To be clear, though, there?s nothing wrong with that. It can be extremely effective, but this offense isn?t nearly as explosive without Tagovailoa.

Harris has 942 rushing yards, 10 TDs and a 6.0 yards-per-carry average. He also has 23 catches for 278 yards and seven TDs.

Smith has 60 receptions for 1,120 yards and 13 TDs, while Jerry Jeudy has 66 catches for 933 yards and six TDs. Henry Ruggs III has caught 32 balls for 620 yards and six TDs, and Waddle has 28 grabs for 455 yards and three TDs.

Alabama is unbeaten in three road assignments, going 2-1 ATS. The non-cover came in backdoor fashion in the final seconds of a 47-23 win at South Carolina as a 25-point road ?chalk.? The Tide?s best win of the season in a 47-28 triumph at Texas A&M.

Auburn (8-3 SU, 8-3 ATS) has won five of its six home games, going 4-2 ATS. All three of Auburn?s losses came in heartbreaking fashion against Top-10 foes. AU lost a 24-13 decision at Florida, 23-20 at LSU and 21-14 vs. Georgia two weeks ago.

Malzahn?s bunch owns quality wins over Oregon (27-21 at Jerry World in Arlington) and at Texas A&M (28-20). The Tigers are off a 52-0 win over Samford as 45.5-point home favorites. True freshman QB Bo Nix completed 15-of-23 passes for 150 yards and one TD without an interception.

JaTarvious Whitlow was the SEC?s second-leading rusher going into the Week 6 showdown against the Gators. He sprained his knee at UF and missed a pair of games. Whitlow saw limited playing time at LSU and vs. UGA, but he appeared to be back to 100 percent last week.

Whitlow had 49 rushing yards and two TDs on seven carries vs. Samford. He also had two catches for 46 yards.

For the season, Nix has hit on 57.6 percent of his passes for 2,193 yards with a 14/6 TD-INT ratio. Seth Williams has 52 catches for 735 yards and eight TDs. Anthony Schwartz is a burner who can take it to the house on any given touch. He has 34 receptions for 378 yards and one TD, in addition to 118 rushing yards and two scores on just 11 totes.

Whitlow has 625 rushing yards, nine TDs and a 4.8 YPC average. D.J. Williams has 371 rushing yards and two TDs, averaging 5.2 YPC.

Auburn is ranked 14th in the nation in total defense, 18th against the run and 11th in scoring ?D? (16.2 points per game). Senior DE Marlon Davidson has a team-best eight sacks, while DE Derrick Brown has four of this unit?s 26 tackles of opposing signal callers.

Alabama is ranked 16th in the country in total defense, 13th versus the pass and 10th in scoring ?D? (16.2 PPG).

The ?under? has cashed in four straight Auburn games to improve to 7-4 overall. The Tigers have seen the ?under? go 4-2 in their home games. AU?s games have averaged combined scores of 48.9 PPG.

The ?over? is 6-5 overall for ?Bama, 2-1 in its road assignments. The Tide?s games have averaged combined scores of 64.7 PPG. This is Alabama?s highest total of the year. The previous low was 56 points in a 48-7 win vs. Arkansas that dipped ?under? by only one point.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

 

[Cnotes53]

DINK-AND-DUNK DAY?

The Iron Bowl will be must-see TV this year as the Alabama Crimson Tide look to strengthen their College Football Playoff case against the host Auburn Tigers. The Crimson Tide will need an emphatic victory in their regular-season finale to earn consideration ? and while they average 7.95 yards per play for the season, that mark is largely due to the big-play ability of now-injured QB Tua Tagovailoa. Mac Jones will play in the regular-season finale, and he's a significant step down in talent ? and the Tigers boast one of the stoutest defensive units in the country, limiting opponents to 4.48 yards per play.

The Crimson Tide will happily take four singles over a home run if it means coming away with the win ? but it should limit their offensive upside, leading us to favor the Under on their team total.


DEFENSES WITH AN AXE TO GRIND

Who will take home Paul Bunyan's Axe? The Badgers and Golden Gophers both hope to hoist the giant chopping tool as they resume their bitter rivalry in Saturday's regular-season finale ? and this game could very well come down to which team makes fewer defensive mistakes. Not only has Minnesota cut its rushing yards allowed by roughly 50 per game from 2018 to now, it also shares the Big Ten lead in interceptions with 14. Wisconsin, meanwhile, ranks fourth in the country in sacks with 39 and ranks inside the top-7 nationally in total defense (270.3 yards per game) and points allowed (14.4).

Both teams will almost certainly sell out to stop the opponents' top offensive option ? and that should make points scarce in a game that sees the winner advance to the Big Ten title game. We like the Under.


X-FACTOR

The Florida State Seminoles already have issues with their offensive line ? and those problems could be magnified in their season finale as they tangle with the rival Florida Gators in Gainesville on Saturday evening. The visiting Seminoles have earned their bowl game eligibility despite ranking 122nd in the country in sacks allowed per game (3.27) and tied for 123rd in tackles for loss against (8.09). Not only has Florida racked up 38 sacks entering the final weekend of the regular season (tied for fifth-most in the country), it will see the return of standout pass rusher Jabari Zuniga (ankle), who has been limited to five games in 2019.

Florida State is in for a long evening courtesy the Gators' relentless pass rush. We're taking the home team to cover with ease.


IT?S BEDLAM TIME

Don't be surprised to see the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys let loose as they wrap up their respective regular seasons with the latest chapter of their Bedlam rivalry. Both teams rank inside the top-25 in points per game, and have made a habit of saving some of their top offensive performances for their in-state encounters. The teams are 5-1-1 O/U in their last seven meetings despite four of those games carrying a total of 70 or higher; the list of shootouts includes a wild 48-47 Oklahoma victory last season in which the teams combined for an incredible 1,342 yards of total offense.

With both sides boasting elite-level playmakers and showing no signs of being able to slow down a top-flight opponent, the Over on this game might just be our favorite play of the weekend.


DTR A DNP?

The UCLA Bruins might roll with their backup quarterback for their season finale against visiting California on Saturday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was held out of Tuesday's practice after suffering a leg injury in last weekend's loss to USC; he was re-taped and remained in the game until it got out of hand, but might not recover in time to face the Golden Bears. Thompson-Robinson has had an up-and-down season for the Bruins, completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes with 20 TDs and 11 interceptions. Austin Burton would likely get the start if Thompson-Robinson can't go.

With Cal having already secured bowl eligibility and UCLA having been eliminated, this game won't mean much to either side; we like the Under regardless if DTR plays, but it's an even strong option if he doesn't.


BRYAN?S BACK

Standout wide receiver Bryan Edwards could be back on the field for South Carolina's regular-season finale against powerhouse Clemson. Edwards hasn't played since undergoing arthroscopic surgery following a Nov. 9 loss to Appalachian State. Edwards sat out the Gamecocks' 30-6 loss to Texas A&M the following week, but has had an additional bye week to rest up and is listed as questionable for Saturday. Edwards' presence would assuredly invigorate a South Carolina offense that managed just six points against the Aggies in his absence; he leads the team in receiving yards (816) and touchdowns (six).

Clemson shouldn't have to work that hard whether South Carolina has Edwards in the fold or not ? but that should work in the Gamecocks' favor from an ATS perspective. We like the home side to cover, particularly if Edwards returns.


WHOP SET TO RETURN

The latest edition of the Old Oaken Bucket battle between Indiana and Purdue should have one of its biggest playmakers in action. Hoosiers wide receiver Whop Philyor was held out of a Nov. 16 loss to the Michigan Wolverines while recovering from a head injury suffered a week earlier against Penn State. But Philyor is expected to return after missing just one game as Indiana wraps up its regular-season schedule with a visit to the rival Boilermakers. Philyor has been one of the most prolific receivers in the Big Ten this season, ranking third in the conference in receptions (61) and fifth in receiving yards (863).

Indiana is 4-0 O/U in its last four road games. Purdue has converted the Over more than two-thirds of the time in its past 8+ years worth of home games. And the teams have gone above the total five straight times at Ross-Ade Stadium. Add it all up, throw in a little Whop, and we like the Over here.

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday's Essentials
November 30, 2019
By Tony Mejia

Here?s a look at what must be considered before wagering on Friday's slate in select FBS vs. FBS matchups:

Early Starts
Georgia (-28.5/46.5) at Georgia Tech, 12 p.m. ET, ABC: The Bulldogs have had a much nicer time preparing for the Yellow Jackets than they have in past years since a modernized spread look is much easier to prepare for than a triple option, especially this late in the season. They would love to take care of business without suffering any injuries ahead of next week?s SEC Championship date with LSU.

Georgia hasn?t lost at Georgia Tech since 1999 and figure to help fill out the house by helping pack Tech?s home stadium for them. Clean Old-fashioned Hate has been pretty one-sided and should again feature a blowout where only the spread will be in doubt late. First-year coach Geoff Collins does have his team playing their best football of the season following a 28-26 upset of N.C. State in which QB James Graham, WR Ahmarean Brown and DE Jordan Domineck all took steps forward. Don?t expect any wrinkles to be on display here since Jake Fromm and the offense will be saving those for Atlanta and LSU. For that reason, a vanilla game plan could help land at least a backdoor cover opportunity for the Yellow Jackets if the outcome is in hand come fourth-quarter. Georgia has covered in each of the last two seasons.

Ohio State (-9.5/64) at Michigan, 12 p.m ET, FOX: If there?s an upset in these early games, the Wolverines are most likely to pull it off, coming into their rivalry game with the Buckeyes on a four-game winning streak, having outscored their opposition 166-45 in becoming a very reliable ATS squad, even covering in their most recent loss at Penn State. Both of the Wolverines? losses this season have come outside Ann Arbor, where Jim Harbaugh has won 13 straight games, last losing to the Buckeyes to close the 2017 season. Harbaugh has dropped all four of his matchups with the Buckeyes, losing the first three to Urban Meyer the first three years and Ryan Day last season by a remarkable 62-39 margin that ranks as the most points ever given up by Michigan. The Wolverines lost at home as a 12-point underdog in ?17 but covered in the 31-20 loss and they actually were 4-point favorites in Columbus when taking that vicious beating last year, so the spread hasn?t meant much in recent years.

With Chase Young back, a fearsome Buckeyes? defense will look to disrupt Shea Patterson?s rhythm coming off a 371-yard, five-touchdown game against the Hoosiers, giving him nine over the past two games. Ohio State?s Justin Fields has thrown for 43 touchdowns and has been intercepted only once, so this will be his Heisman statement. He?s coming off a thumb injury suffered last week and has been banged up, so Michigan could have a chance at pulling off an upset and snapping a run that has seen it drop 14 of 15 in this rivalry. Rain and snow could be part of the festivities. Temperatures will be in the high 30?s. Game on.

Clemson (-27/50.5) at South Carolina, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN: The Gamecocks haven?t won in this series since Steve Spurrier haunted Dabo Swinney with five straight wins from ?09-?13 after losing to him when he took over in an interim role. Swinney has won five straight, four of which have come by double-digits. The outlier in that stretch is when he took his top-ranked team into Columbia and escaped with a 37-32 win as a 20-point favorite. Trevor Lawrence helped put up a 56-spot in last year?s win in Death Valley and will again attempt to toy with a Will Muschamp defense. His teams have fallen 147-52 against the rival Tigers. Lawrence has thrown 16 touchdown passes without being intercepted and became the first quarterback in school history to throw for at least three scores in six consecutive games.

South Carolina won?t be going bowling even if it pulls off this massive upset, which is wild since they?ve already taken down Georgia in Athens. The Gamecocks were held to a season-low six points last week by Texas A&M but freshman QB Ryan Hilinski has held up decently against the Dawgs and Crimson Tide, defenses on par with what he?ll see today. South Carolina?s leading rusher, Tavien Feaster, opened his career at Clemson and will be returning from an injury. He?ll need to have a big game to keep this close.

Afternoon Delights
Wisconsin (-3/47) at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC: The Gophers will look to wrap up a Rose Bowl bid and welcome College Gameday to Minneapolis for the first time ever. While it?s not the biggest game of the day ? not even the biggest game in their own conference ? the battle for Paul Bunyan?s ax is as big as it has ever been. Minnesota won last season to end a 14-game losing streak in the series, which is now even at 60-60-8. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor is 144 yards shy of 6,000 rushing yards for the season, so getting him a little individual glory will likely be the key to Wisconsin holding serve as a road favorite.

The Gophers are 6-1-1 ATS over their last eight and have seen QB Phillip Nelson and top WRs Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson make huge leaps forward. The 15 points that Minnesota surrendered against Wisconsin was the lowest total the Badgers have produced in the series since 1990. Rain and snow will make it difficult for both teams to move the ball. The ?over? is 15-4 in the last 19 battles for the ax and has connected in four of the last five games involving the Gophers.

Alabama (-3.5/49.5) at Auburn, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS: The Crimson Tide will look to continue their dominance over the Tigers on the six-year anniversary of their most memorable loss in the Iron Bowl, the unforgettable ?Kick Six? game. Auburn also won as five-point underdogs in 2017 and will try and make life difficult for sophomore Mac Jones, who has been thrust into the starting role with Tua Tagovailoa done for the season and kid brother Taulia Tagovailoa not ready to take the reins just yet. The Tigers? defensive line is among the best in the country, so even though Jones has gotten plenty of experience over the years and looked sharp in a 66-3 win over Western Carolina last week.

The Tigers have been tested plenty this season, defeating Oregon and losing to Florida, LSU and Georgia due to a lack of offense. This Alabama defense isn?t as strong as it has been in years past, so freshman QB Bo Dix may be able to exploit hooking up with Seth Williams. It?s expected to be a warm day on the Plains, so both quarterbacks won?t have to deal with the elements as they look to make the most of their fabulous receiving corps.

Notre Dame (-16.5/46.5) at Stanford, 4 p.m. ET, NBC: The Irish hope to wrap up a 10-win season by ending a drought on the Farm, where Stanford hasn?t lost to the Golden Domers in over a decade. It?s been a disastrous run for the Cardinal this season due to multiple injuries, so this will be the school?s bowl game since they won?t finish with a winning record for the first time since ?08, ending David Shaw?s run of bowls in succession. Notre Dame has dropped five straight in Palo Alto and will look to end that run to win 10 games for a third straight year for the first time since ?91-?93.

The Irish is going out on the road with a patchwork offensive line after losing right guard Tommy Kraemer and top tackle Robert Haisey. There?s a 70 percent chance of rain forecast here and wind gusts are likely, so it might be tough for both teams to move the ball. The Cardinal?s rushing attack has really struggled this season, so unless the weather holds up, it might be tough for either team to move the ball considering QB Davis Mills hasn?t been able to rely on his ground game. Notre Dame was crushed by Michigan last time it played in a heavy rain storm.

Late-Night Snack
Army at Hawai?i (-3/54.5), 12:30 a.m. ET, CBSSN: The Warriors pulled out an enormous 14-11 win at home last Saturday against San Diego State to clinch a spot in the Mountain West title game, so we?ll see if they?re able to sustain their intensity in what may be a difficult game to get up for considering next week?s matchup with Boise State. Consider that although Hawai?I has run into a New Mexico team that runs elements of the spread option, Army?s triple-option is very difficult to prepare for and will really test Hawaii?s coaches since they may not want to expose key defenders to chop blocks and a physical grinding style that is required to stop Army.

The Black Knights want to head back to West Point with a 6-6 record so that their game against Navy affords them an opportunity to get bowl eligible in its own right. After dropping five straight games, Army has outscored UMass and VMI by a 110-13 margin, so we?ll see how they handle a step up in competition. Hawai?I has really struggled to stop the run, so if you?re reading this, go ahead and take my freebie for the day and take the points with Army to win in Honolulu, where wind gusts may also aid the cause in keeping the team?s feared passing attack from throwing it around efficiently.

 

[Cnotes53]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LOU at UK 12:00 PM
LOU +3.5

TLSA at ECU 12:00 PM
ECU +6.5
O 63.0

FIU at MRSH 12:00 PM
FIU +9.5
O 49.5

NW at ILL 12:00 PM
ILL -6.5

IND at PUR 12:00 PM
PUR +7.0
O 56.5

OSU at MICH 12:00 PM
OSU -8.5
U 52.0

CLEM at SOCAR 12:00 PM
CLEM -27.5

UGA at GT 12:00 PM
GT +28.5
O 46.0

TXST at CC 12:00 PM
CC -7.0

WAKE at SYR 12:30 PM
WAKE -5.0
O 68.0

 

[Cnotes53]

MID-DAY GAMES

NMSU at LIB 02:00 PM
LIB -14.5
U 66.5

WYO at AFA 02:00 PM
WYO +13.0

MTU at WKU 02:00 PM
O 46.5

********************

CHAR at ODU 02:00 PM
O 51.0

UNLV at NEV 03:00 PM
NEV -7.0

RICE at UTEP 03:00 PM
RICE -6.5

RUTG at PSU 03:30 PM
RUTG +40.0

CONN at TEM 03:30 PM
O 48.0

BC at PITT 03:30 PM
BC +8.0

UTSA at LT 03:30 PM
UTSA +21.0
O 56.0

USM at FAU 03:30 PM
FAU -9.5
U 56.5

WIS at MINN 03:30 PM
WIS -3.0

MD at MSU 03:30 PM
MSU -22.5

ALA at AUB 03:30 PM
ALA -3.5
O 51.0

BAY at KU 03:30 PM
BAY -14.0
O 49.0

MIA at DUKE 03:30 PM
DUKE +9.0

********************

USU at UNM 04:00 PM
USU -11.0

TULN at SMU 04:00 PM
TULN +3.0
O 71.5

UAB at UNT 04:00 PM
O 50.0

ORST at ORE 04:00 PM
ORST +19.5
O 65.5

ND at STAN 04:00 PM
ND -17.0
U 45.5

VAN at TENN 04:00 PM
TENN -22.5

GSU at GASO 06:00 PM
GSU +7.0

 

[Cnotes53]

EVENING BEST BETS:

NAVY at HOU 07:00 PM
NAVY -9.0
O 56.5

TAM at LSU 07:00 PM
TAM +17.5
O 64.0

ISU at KSU 07:00 PM
KSU +5.0
O 45.0

UNC at NCST 07:00 PM
UNC -11.0

COLO at UTAH 07:30 PM
UTAH -28.0

FSU at FLA 07:30 PM
FLA -17.0

ULM at ULL 07:30 PM
ULL -19.5
O 71.0

****************************

OKLA at OKST 08:00 PM
OKST +13.5

BYU at SDSU 09:00 PM
SDSU +5.5
U 39.0

ARIZ at ASU 10:00 PM
ASU -13.5
U 60.5

FRES at SJSU 10:30 PM
SJSU +1.0
U 60.5

CAL at UCLA 10:30 PM
CAL -1.0
U 50.5

ARMY at HAW 11:59 PM
HAW -2.5
U 55.0

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday???s best
November 30, 2019
By The Associated Press

STARS

-J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State, ran for 211 yards and four TDs to help the No. 2 Buckeyes rout No. 10 Michigan 56-27 for a school-record eighth straight win in the series.

-Joe Burrow, LSU, padded his Heisman Trophy resume with 352 yards and three touchdowns passing and the No.1 Tigers beat Texas A&M 50-7.

- Lynn Bowden, Kentucky, set an SEC record by a quarterback with 284 yards rushing and scored four TDs as the Wildcats blew out rival Louisville 45-13 in the Governor's Cup showdown.

-Jaylen Waddle, Alabama, caught three TD passes and scored on a 98-yard kickoff return in the No 5 Crimson Tide's 48-45 loss to No. 16 Auburn.

-Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, threw for 295 yards and three TDs to lead the No. 3 Tigers to their 27th straight victory and second consecutive 12-0 regular season with a 38-3 victory over rival South Carolina.

-Jake Fromm, Georgia, threw four TD passes and the No. 4 Bulldogs cruised into the Southeastern Conference championship game with a 52-7 victory over Georgia Tech.

-Brant Kuithe, Utah, scored three TDs and the No. 6 Utes locked up a spot in the Pac-12 championship game for the second consecutive season with a 45-15 victory over Colorado.

-Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma, rushed for 160 yards and a TD to help the No. 7 Sooners beat No. 21 Oklahoma State 34-16.

-James Robinson, Illinois State, rushed for 297 yards in a 24-6 win over Southeast Missouri in a first-round FCS playoff game.

-Chason Virgil, SE Louisiana, threw for 474 yards and three TDs in a 45-44 win over Villanova in the FCS playoffs.

-Jamale Carothers, Navy, rushed for career highs of 188 yards and five TDs as the No. 24 Midshipmen beat Houston 56-41.

-Zach Smith, Tulsa, threw a career-high five TD passes in a 49-24 win over East Carolina.

-Pete Guerriero, Monmouth, ran for 220 yards and TDs as the Hawks beat Holy Cross 44-27 for the program's first FCS playoff victory.

-Ian Book, Notre Dame, threw for 255 yards and four TDs and the No. 15 Fighting Irish reached double-digit wins for the third straight season by beating Stanford 45-24.

-Frankie Hickson, Liberty, ran for career-bests of 196 yards and four TDs to lead the Flames to a 49-28 victory over New Mexico State.

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BUCKEYES BIG HOUSE BLOWOUT

Ohio State has turned what's known as The Game into ITS Game, making one of the greatest rivalries in sports a one-sided series with little suspense.

Chasing a national championship, not simply beating the Wolverines, is how the Buckeyes measure a successful season.

And under first-year coach Ryan Day, they have put themselves in a position to potentially win it all for the second time since the 2014 season and third time this century.

J.K. Dobbins ran for four touchdowns and Justin Fields threw four TD passes, providing plenty of firepower for No. 2 Ohio State to rout No. 10 Michigan 56-27 for a school-record eighth straight win in the series.

The Buckeyes will head to the Big Ten championship game to face No. 13 Wisconsin next Saturday with a spot in the College Football Playoff in sight.

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SIZZLING IRON BOWL

Auburn delivered the final blow to Alabama's playoff chances. No surprised the Tigers did it home.

Shaun Shivers scored on an 11-yard run with 8:08 left to put No. 16 Auburn ahead and another failed field goal by Alabama in the Iron Bowl wiped away the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide's playoff hopes in a wild 48-45 victory for the Tigers.

Auburn survived a final, marathon Crimson Tide drive when Joseph Bulovas' 30-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright with 2:00 left.

Auburn couldn't get a first down on JaTarvious Whitlow's three runs while Alabama burned its final two time outs. But the Tide was called for illegal substitution after the Tigers lined up for a punt, setting off a fist-pumping celebration for coach Gus Malzahn.

Auburn fans stormed the field to celebrate another Iron Bowl thriller, filling it from end zone to end zone as they did in the 2013 Kick-Six game, when the Tigers' returned a missed Tide field goal for a game-winning touchdown.

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NUMBERS

3-Times No. 11 Baylor has won 11 games in a season since the program was founded in 1899, including this year.

517-Rushing yards by Kentucky in its 45-13 win over rival Louisville, a school record.

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UTES ROLL IN PAC-12 TITLE GAME

After Utah's lone stumble this season, at Southern California in September, quarterback Tyler Huntley called a players-only meeting.

Huntley is known for his short answers with media and he didn't need to long to get his message across that day. He told his teammates they were a team of destiny and that loss wouldn't define the season.

It didn't.

No. 6 Utah clinched the Pac-12 South title and remained in the hunt for the College Football Playoff with a 45-15 victory over Colorado.

The Utes needed a quarter to get rolling in 25-degree temperatures, but romped to their eighth straight victory as Brant Kuithe scored three touchdowns. Huntley was 14-for-17 for 165 yards and connected with Kuithe twice for scores.

 

[Cnotes53]

TOP 25 SATURDAYS RESULTS:

No. 1 Ohio State 56, No. 13 Michigan 27

No. 2 LSU 50, Texas A&M 7

No. 3 Clemson 38, South Carolina 3

No. 4 Georgia 52, Georgia Tech 7

No. 15 Auburn 48, No. 5 Alabama 45

No. 6 Utah 45, Colorado 15

No. 7 Oklahoma 34, No. 21 Oklahoma State 16

No. 12 Wisconsin 38, No. 8 Minnesota 17

No. 9 Baylor 61, Kansas 6

No. 10 Penn State 27, Rutgers 6

No. 11 Florida 40, Florida State 17

No. 14 Oregon 24, Oregon State 10

No. 16 Notre Dame 45, Stanford 24

No. 17 Iowa 27, Nebraska 24

No. 18 Memphis 34, No. 19 Cincinnati 24

No. 20 Boise State 31, Colorado State 24

No. 22 Southern California: OFF

Kansas State 27, No. 23 Iowa State 17

Virginia 39, No. 24 Virginia Tech 30

No. 25 Appalachian State 48, Troy 13

 

[Cnotes53]

CFB NOVEMBER OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

11/30/2019........41-26-0........61.19%........+62.00
11/29/2019........13-11-1........54.17%..........+4.50
11/28/2019...........2-0-0.......100.00%.........+10.00
11/26/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%..........-1.00
11/23/2019........33-42-0.........44.44%..........-66.00
11/22/2019...........0-2-0..........00.00%.........-11.00
11/21/2019...........2-0-0........100.00%.........+10.00
11/20/2019...........1-3-0.........25.00%..........-11.50
11/19/2019...........3-1-0.........75.00%...........+9.50
11/16/2019........32-30-1.........51.61%...........-5.00
11/15/201.............3-1-0..........75.00%..........+9.50
11/14/2019...........1-3-0..........25.00%...........-11.50
11/13/2019...........3-1-0..........75.00%...........+9.50
11/12/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%............-1.00
11/09/2019........32-27-0..........54.24%...........+11.50
11/08/2019...........2-2-0...........50.00%...........-1.00
11/06/2019...........2-0-0.........100.00%..........+10.00
11/05/2019...........1-3-0...........25.00%..........-11.50
11/02/2019........29-28-0,,,,,,,,,,50.88%............-9.00
11/01/2019.......... 1-1-0 ..........50.00%.......... -0.50

Totals................205-185-0....... 52.56%...........+4.50

*****************************

BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS.............UNITS. ............O/U...............UNITS.............TOTALS

11/30/2019............12 - 14..........-17.00...........15 - 8.............+35.00...............+18.00
11/29/2019.............6 - 7............-8.50...............3 - 4..............-7.00.................-15.50
11/28/2019.............1 - 0............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00...............+10.00
11/26/2019.............1 - 1.............-0.50.............1 - 1................-0.50................-1.00
11/23/2019............17 - 20...........-25.00..........12 - 10.............+5.00...............-20.00
11/22/2019.............0 - 1..............-5.50............0 - 1...............-5.50.................-11.00
11/21/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00...........1 - 0...............+5.00................+10.00
11/20/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/19/2019.............2 - 0..............+10.00..........1 - 1..............-0.50.................+9.50
11/16/2019............20- 12............+40.00..........6 - 7...............-8.50................+31.50
11/15/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50................+9.50
11/14/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/13/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50.................+9.50
11/12/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........0 - 2...............-11.00...............-1.00
11/09/2019............13 - 14...........-12.00............4 - 2...............+9.00...............-3.00
11/08/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1................-0.50...............+9.50
11/06/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00..............+10.00
11/05/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00..............-11.50
11/02/2019............12 - 16...........-28.00............8 - 4...............+18.00.............-10.00
11/01/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............0 - 1................-5.50...............-0.50

TOTALS.................94 - 87...........+12.00...........56 - 50............+20.00...............+32.00

PENDING GAME:.......

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

GAME SCORE PICK UNITS STATUS
Army.........17
Hawaii.......24 Under 55.0

 

[Cnotes53]

Sunday?s 6-pack

Top six picks for Week 13 in Westgate Super Contest:

6) Tennessee +2.5 (712)

5) Arizona +3 (723)

4) Jets -3 (879)

3) San Francisco +6 (886)

2) New England -3 (920)

1) Green Bay -6.5 (1.034)

2019 record: 38-31-3

Quote of the Day
?I?ll answer your questions but not your insults. They (Ohio State) played better today.?
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh

Sunday?s quiz
Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards played nine of his ten years in the NFL for which team?

Saturday?s quiz
The Sun Bowl football game is played in El Paso every year.

Friday?s quiz
Indiana-Purdue play football annually for the Old Oaken Bucket.

************************

Sunday?s List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday??.

13) Auburn 48, Alabama 45? There were five TD?s scored in a 5:03 span of this game, late in 2nd quarter. Score was 31-27 Alabama at halftime. Total in the game was 50.5.

Kudos to CBS sideline reporter Jame Erdahl, who had the unenviable task of Interviewing Nick Saban at halftime, when he??.wasn?t happy after Auburn kicked a last second FG. When I say he wasn?t happy, thats a gross understatement.


? Auburn had two pick-6?s, one a 100-yarder that put Tigers up, 37-31.
? Alabama ran the kickoff after the first pick-6 back 100 yards for a TD.
? Alabama outgained Auburn 515-354.
? Penalties: Alabama 13-96; Auburn 9-60.
? Alabama missed a 30-yard FG off the left upright with 2:00 left.

12) Indiana 44, Purdue 41 OT? Hoosiers? QB Ramsey started for Indiana the last two years, then lost his starting job this offseason; instead of transferring, like so many college QB?s do when they lose their starting job, Ramsey stayed at Indiana because likes his teammates. The other QB got hurt, and Ramsey made the most out of getting his job back.

Indiana winds up wth a winning record in conference play for first time since 1993.

Purdue QB O?Connell is a walk-on who started this season as the 4th-stringer; he threw for 408 yards, three TD?s in a losing cause.

11) Ohio State 56, Michigan 27? Buckeyes win this rivalry game for 8th year in row (4-4 ATS); they?ve scored 118 points in last two meetings, 30+ points in last seven.

10) Syracuse 39, Wake Forest 30 OT? From all we can tell, Orangemen are only 2nd team to score a defensive TD in OT while they were protecting a lead; Arizona State did it against USC 20 or so years ago.

9) Duke 27, Miami 17/Florida 40, Florida State 17:

Miami and Florida State are both 6-6, which is both disappointing and surprising; they?ve got to recruit their home state better. Lot of good high school players in Florida, but everyone recruits the Sunshine State, and hard.

8) Missouri fired football coach Barry Odom, who went 50-50 in four years in Columbia, but lost five of his last six games this season. Still not sure why Missouri left the Big X for the SEC? lack of playing longtime rivals like Kansas/Nebraska has hurt their attendance.

7) Football upsets:
? West Virginia (+13.5) 20, TCU 17
? South Alabama (+10.5) 34, Arkansas State 30
? Duke (+8.5) 27, Miami 17
? Boston College (+8) 26, Pittsburgh 19
? UNLV (+7) 33, Nevada 30 OT
? Northwestern (+7) 29, Illinois 10

6) Cincinnati 72, UNLV 65 OT? Bearcats played their 3rd straight OT game, rallying back from down 33-24 at the half. UNLV was 0-3 in OT games in November; they had four guys play 36:00+.

5) Ohio U 91, Detroit 81? Detroit G Brad Calipari sat out LY, after sitting on his dad?s bench at Kentucky the two years before that. He wanted to play, so he transferred to Detroit, where he is playing 22.2 mpg, scoring 6.2 ppg, making 40.7% of his 3?s.

4) Florida State 63, Purdue 60 OT? Seminoles win Emerald Coast Classic, winning both games this weekend by 3 points. FSU has won seven games in a row since losing their opener at Pitt.

3) Basketball upsets:
? North Dakota (+10.5) 80, Georgia Southern 68
? Prairie View (+8.5) 79, UTSA 72
? Cal-Northridge (+7.5) 73, Fresno State 72
? Navy (+7) 76, Brown 56
? Fort Wayne (+6.5) 71, Grand Canyon 60
? St Francis PA (+6.5) 79, St Joe?s 63
? Northern Arizona (+6) 76, South Dakota 72
? NC-Greensboro (+6) 65, Georgetown 61

2) Richmond 64, Boston College 44? Spiders won six of their first seven games after going 25-40 the last two years; they?ve got wins over Wisconsin, Vandy, BC, power-5 wins.

1) They may have played schedule #350 so far (out of 353), but Liberty is one of only 20 unbeaten teams left in the country, and that is surprising. Flames are 9-0 already.

 

[Cnotes53]

Monday?s 6-pack

Top six picks for Week 13 in Westgate Super Contest:

6) Tennessee +2.5 (712)- W

5) Arizona +3 (723)- L

4) Jets -3 (879)- L

3) San Francisco +6 (886)- W

2) New England -3 (920)- L

1) Green Bay -6.5 (1.034)- W

2019 record: 41-34-3

Quote of the Day
?I?m not worried about my future. I?m worried about this football team. We have a game coming up on Sunday.?
Carolina Panthers? coach Ron Rivera

Monday?s quiz
What city did the football Cardinals call home, before moving to Arizona?

Sunday?s quiz
Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards played nine of his ten years in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles.


Saturday?s quiz
The Sun Bowl football game is played in El Paso every year.

**********************

Monday?s Den: Wrapping up an NFL Sunday??

Ravens 20, 49ers 17:
? 49ers will tied for 1st in NFC West if Seattle wins Monday.
? Ravens won field position by ten yards in this game.
? Both teams ran ball for 170+ yards on a very rainy day.

? Tucker kicked GW 49-yard FG at the gun, for the win.
? Baltimore won its 8th game in a row (5-1 ATS in last six).
? Ravens are only 4-9 ATS in last 13 games as a home favorite.

Broncos 23, Chargers 20:
? Chargers lost despite outgaining Denver, 359-218.
? Chargers are 1-4 TY in games decided by 3 or fewer points.
? In its last three games, LA has a minus-6 turnover ratio.

? McManus hit a 53-yard FG at gun, after Chargers committed a 34-yard PI penalty on the previous play to put Denver into FG range.
? Chargers scored in last minute of each half, but it wasn?t enough.
? Drew Lock is 11th QB to make his NFL debut TY; they?re 4-6-1 SU, 9-2 ATS.

Dolphins 37, Eagles 31:
? Dolphins? first three drives: 7 plays, 6 yards, 1 first down, no points.
? Dolphins? last seven drives: 56 plays, 403 yards, 25 first downs, 37 points.
? Eagles lost their last three games, by 7-8-6 points.

? DeVante Parker caught seven passes for 159 yards, two TD?s.
? Miami scored TD on a fake FG; punter passed to the kicker.
? Last NFL kicker to score a TD: Denver?s Jim Turner, back in 1977.

Packers 31, Giants 13:
? Green Bay?s first two drives: 12 plays, 138 yards, two TD?s.
? Over last 11 years, GB is 29-22-1 ATS coming off a loss, 3-0 TY.
? Packers won field position by 13 yards in this game.

? Under Shurmur, Giants are 1-9 ATS as a home underdog, 0-4 TY.
? Giants lost last eight games, outscored 117-53 in second half.
? Perils of playing a rookie QB: Giants are minus-13 in turnovers this year.

Redskins 29, Panthers 21:
? Washington ran ball for 248 yards, outgained Carolina by 84 yards.
? Redskins had a 9-yard advantage in field position.
? Washington won its second game in a row after a 1-9 start.

? Carolina is 1-6 TY when it scores less than 30 points; they?ve got a -10 TO ratio in their last six games.
? Panthers lost their last four games, allowing 29 ppg.
? Six of Carolina?s last eight games went over the total.

Titans 31, Colts 17:
? Titans ran blocked FG back for game-winning TD with 5:02 left.
? Tennessee scored 106 points in its last three games, scoring 13 TD?s on 32 drives.
? Titans scored 29.7 ppg in Tannehill?s six starts (5-1).

? Colts lost four of their last five games.
? Indy missed two of three FG?s; two of them were blocked.
? Only 4th win for Tennessee in last 23 games with Indy.

Chiefs 40, Raiders 9:
? Oakland lost its last two games by combined score of 74-12.
? Chiefs swept Raiders TY by combined score of 68-19.
? Raiders lost their last seven visits to Arrowhead (1-6 ATS)

? Chiefs converted 7-11 on third down, also scored a defensive TD.
? KC has seven takeaways in its last two games (+6); they had 12 takeaways in their first ten games.
? Chiefs won 12 of their last 14 games with Oakland.

Buccaneers 28, Jaguars 11:
? Bucs? first three drives: 25 plays, 186 yards, 14 points.
? Tampa Bay won four of seven true road games SU.
? Bucs average 32.4 ppg in seven games with 2 or fewer turnovers; they average 22.6 ppg in their five games with 3+ turnovers. .

? Jaguars in first half: 6 drives: 27 plays, 91 yards, 5 first downs, 3 turnovers.
? Jaguars benched Nick Foles for Gardnew Minshew at halftime.
? Jaguars are 11-23-1 ATS in last 35 games where spread was 3 or fewer points

Bengals 22, Jets 6:
? There were no plays longer than 20 yards by either team in this game.
? Jets are 9-18-2 ATS in last 29 road games
? Jets in 2nd half: 6 drives, 32 plays- 71 yards, outscored 5-0.

? Cincy gets its first win; they?re still in position for #1 pick in draft.
? Dalton threw for 243 yards in his return to the starting lineup.
? Bengals won field position by 18 yards in this game.

Rams 34, Cardinals 7:
? Goff threw for 323 yards?..in the first half.
? Total yardage: Rams 549, Cardinals 198
? LA is 10-54 on 3rd down in their losses, 46-98 in its wins.

? In their last five games, Cardinals converted only 10-53 third down plays.
? Arizona lost its last five games, but covered six of last eight games.
? Rams won last five trips to Arizona, last three by combined score of 101-7.

Steelers 20, Browns 17:
? Cleveland in 2nd half: 5 drives, 26 plays, 96 yards, 2 turnovers, 3 points.
? Browns lost their last 16 visits to Heinz Field (6-7 ATS in last 13)
? Cleveland was favored in Pittsburgh for first time since 1989.

? Steelers are 9-1-1 SU in last 11 series games.
? Pitt won six of last seven games after a 1-4 start.
? Steelers are 6-0 when they allow less than 20 points, 1-5 when they allow more.

Texans 28, Patriots 22:
? Baltimore is now the #1 seed in the AFC.
? Patriots gained 244 yards on last three drives, 204 on first seven drives.
? Prior to those three 2nd half TD?s, Patriots had scored only two TD?s on their previous 30 drives.

? Texans won five of their six home games this year.
? Houston had 11-yard edge in field position, only 2nd time this year New England lost field position battle.
? Texans snapped a 6-game series skid against New England.